Aroldis Chapman rebounds from rough start

The 6-foot-4 closer, the guy with the Autobahn fastball and diamonds like disco balls sparkling in his earlobes, had just plunked himself on a well-worn bench in the visitors’ dugout at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chapman seemed confident and even a bit cocky from the outside, but the Cubs insisted the stressful moment had his insides churning.

What would possibly make this dude nervous?

Not making his Cubs debut before 40,000 screaming fans in the annual City Series between the crosstown rivals. Not meeting new teammates in a strange town while trying to impress his bosses.

Certainly not taking on the weight of ending the Cubs 107-year-old drought.

The most intimidating pitcher on the planet, the Cubs insisted, was nervous about facing the Chicago media.

Chapman arrived in good time at the Cell on this warm July afternoon, ready to put on a Cubs uniform on for the first time and start a new chapter in his short-but-brilliant career. The Cubs had acquired the Cuban-born lefty from the Yankees a day earlier for four players, including top prospect Gleyber Torres.

It was a steep price to pay for a two-month rental on a team that already had a bona fide closer in